Tauranga will be the place to be from today (11 August) until Wednesday (13 August), as the NZ Marine Industry Conference brings together some of the sharpest minds, boldest innovators, and most passionate advocates in the marine sector. This isn’t just a gathering to swap business cards — it’s a chance to explore where we’re headed as an industry, what challenges are looming, and how we can turn them into opportunities.
At the helm of it all will be Ross Blackman. Few people can move so easily between telling a good story and steering serious discussion. With a CV that stretches from sailmaking in Sydney to running Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup campaigns, Ross knows the marine world from loft floor to boardroom.
From there, the conversation will widen quickly. Sir Peter Maire will revisit the stage for the first time since 2013, bringing fresh perspectives from his ventures in product development, exporting, and building brands that go global. His experiences — from founding Navman to taking Kiwi technology to the world — carry lessons for any business looking to grow beyond New Zealand’s shores.
On the racing front, Conrad Colman has a big vision and the track record to back it up. The first Kiwi to sail the Vendée Globe and the only skipper to finish it without fossil fuels, Colman is now leading Aotearoa Ocean Racing into The Ocean Race 2027. Alongside that, he’s helping spearhead the Ocean Race Europe campaign — a proving ground for the team’s ambitions and a platform for sustainable ocean racing on the world stage.
Sustainability and technology will be constant threads. Fiona Bycroft from Naut, Lindsay Faithfull from McKay, and Michael Eaglen from EV Maritime will all share how electrification is shifting from concept to commercial reality — with real-world projects now in operation, from Auckland’s battery-powered ferries to the 300hp electric centre console Gamechanger that will be on display. Mat Hooper from Vessev and Colin Mitchell from Q-West Boat Builders will add their own insights into how innovation can remain simple for users while delivering big performance gains.
But the conference isn’t all about hardware. Sam Woolford from LegaSea will challenge delegates to think about the legacy we’re leaving in our coastal fisheries, while mental fitness advocate Jimi Hunt will turn the spotlight inward, asking how we look after ourselves in a fast-moving, high-pressure industry.
The future workforce is another focus. Chris van der Hor from MAST Academy will talk about training the next generation of boatbuilders, riggers, and marine specialists — an issue every yard and workshop in the country is facing. And when the conversation shifts to business growth, speakers like Justin Flitter (New Zealand AI), Craig Fenton (Fenton Innovation), Joshua Tan (Export NZ), and Renee Polaczuk (NZ Export Credit) will offer practical ways to expand capability, adopt new tools, and navigate risk.
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Throughout the three days, NZ Marine’s leadership — President Tracey Stevenson, Event and Export Manager Stacey Cook, and Executive Director Peter Busfield — will update members on advocacy work, major events like the 2026 Auckland Boat Show, and the broader strategic direction of the association.
It’s a packed programme, but the real value will be in the conversations between sessions — where boatbuilders talk tech with software developers, where environmental advocates meet ferry designers, and where an idea jotted on a coffee-stained notepad might become the next big Kiwi export.
By the time the conference wraps on Wednesday, delegates will head home not just with new contacts, but with fresh ideas, bigger ambitions, and a clearer sense of how New Zealand’s marine industry can lead on the world stage.
